Alina Lindgren

When I opened my eyes, I saw it was still dark outside.

I looked and saw it's only four thirty AM; I woke up earlier than usual, but I didn't want to sleep again. This day is too important to sleep late.

So, after staying on the bed for a few minutes, I got up and walked toward the bathroom.

Forty minutes later, I walked out of my room.

The rays of dawn had appeared in the sky, and it looked beautiful, so I couldn't help but admire it for a few seconds before I kept walking.

I was walking when I paused, turned, and activated the Swift Steps.

A few seconds later, I appeared in the parlour and saw my grandfather talking to Marla, the estate manager.

"Grandfather!" I said as I appeared in front of him, and a moment later, hugged him tightly.

I have been dead worried since pirates caught him. I know nothing would happen to him; he is a master. Even the pirates were not daring enough to kill one; still, I was worried.

"I am fine, my little peach." He reassured me by patting my head.

"How are you doing?" he asked after I finally let go. "Good," I replied, giving him the same answer to all those times he asked, but he knows me better than that, and his look said it all.

"It feels too much. I wish you hadn't given me the control. You are the master; it's your legacy!" I said.

I have never said it to anyone as I don't want to seem ungrateful. People would kill for this opportunity. My family did that. It was the reason Grandfather threw them all away.

He laughed, and I glared at him.

"It is my legacy, and I love it, but it is also why I know I would not be the best person to run it." His eyes turned serious with that.

"You, my dear granddaughter, are selling yourself short. You are more capable than you believe."

"I have complete confidence that you will do it and do it better than I; it's the reason I have given you the command of my legacy." He said.

His words are filled with belief and trust, which I do not feel in myself, but they made me feel a little better.

I have been under immense stress since I returned from Greltheaven. The new legacy is massive, far larger than our old tavern.

If they had not trained me in Velvet Garden, I wouldn't have had the confidence to run it.

"It's a little early, but let's have breakfast. It will be a long day, and you will need energy," he stated, and I nodded. The legacy is going to be opened in the evening at six.

The legacy is a fusion of a tavern and an inn that used to conduct not-so-legal business.

Evening is the perfect time to open it. It also looks most beautiful in the evening.

Though the biggest reason is the name. It's new name.

I sat down, and soon the staff served us breakfast. "Did the pirates do anything?" I asked. I have been worried since Madam Margaux informed me about them.

They had said he is unharmed, but I have to ask it myself.

"No, they were careful. They know they can't harm the master of legacy." He replied, hearing that I was relieved.

"Though, they must be regretting right now, about an hour ago. The bounty hunters caught them," he added with a laugh. I smiled as well.

Lord Silver had talked to me yesterday and told me he had issued the bounty against the pirates.

Soon, I finished breakfast and walked out of the manor.

It is early morning, but it is awake and vibrant. It feels more vibrant today than I have seen it at any time in my eighteen years of life.

Soon, the carriage reached the district where the legacy is, and it had completely transformed in the past six months.

The legacy had a huge effect; it was already one of the most expensive districts in the city, but now it had become the most expensive district.

Even at the district's edge, the changes stand out, and they grow larger as the carriage moves closer to the legacy.

Grandfather has a lot of investments here in the city. Especially on land, much of which is in the district. The price of which had skyrocketed.

People know the effect the legacy brings and have made massive investments.

Soon, we reached the massive square around the legacy, surrounding the legacy in the middle. The legacy and vast garden had become the centre, with a massive space between them and the other building.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

This space will give free movement around the legacy.

It has been a big problem because of tourists and people; the area has also become a commercial centre. Exacerbating the problem further.

Now that wouldn't be, with a large open space and wide roads for carriages to move smoothly.

Behind the large space are stores and hotels.

Boutique stores and hotels filled the area around the legacy before the reconstruction, but it is nothing compared to what it is now.

The stores are more luxurious, and the hotels are bigger.

Many people have come to the city to escape the war, and have brought a lot of money. These people, along with the city's merchants, had invested a lot.

I heard the city is making a lot in taxes, and it's going to make a lot more once it reopens.

This is the advantage of being a big, established city. Lord Silver had been trying and doing well, attracting investment, but it had not reached this level.

Though with a new Velvet Garden, it might.

I have seen the plan and scale; it is shocking, but until it is ready, which will take a year, my legacy will be the greatest attraction in the entire empire.

Even after that, because it had advantages, Greltheaven does not.

Soon, the carriage reached the massive, silvery gates of the legacy. They are the only things visible; everything else is covered in mist.

Even those with ocular skills could not look through it. Some of them complained to me about the backlash they suffered. They shouldn't do that then.

The carriage moved through the mist, revealing the legacy and massive garden surrounding it.

It's huge, and the thing is, every plant is a mist plant. They are beautiful and release a bouquet of scents that enthrall one as they enter through the gates.

There are powerful formations and skills here that keep this smell in the compound.

People will only smell it after entering the legacy's compound.

The carriage reached in front of the gates of the legacy and stopped. A moment later, I stepped out and observed the huge building in front of me.

It's truly massive and in a few hours. It's going to be revealed to the world, and they will be astounded.

Currently, only staff are present. All of them, from gardeners to servers, are trained at or are from Velvet Garden and have signed a secrecy contract.

We have strictly controlled the access, aside from Lord Thorn's family and a few advisers. Nobody could see it; a few tried to sneak in, but they suffered a fate worse than those who tried to sneak a peek.

"You came early; I was planning to surprise you at your house," said a voice.

I turned to see a late-teen blond girl walking toward me. She is beautiful at every time of day, which made me envious.

"Gloria!" I said and hugged her as she reached me.

Velvet Garden had not only trained me but also given me true friends, for the first time in my life. I never had them as I was always a granddaughter of Vanis Lindgren.

Master of Vanis Tavern, the legacy.

All the children's parents force them to befriend me so they can gain access to the legacy. It didn't get any easier as I got older; they wanted access to the legacy themselves.

With Gloria, Alva, and others, I didn't have to worry about that.

They have access to the legacy, bigger than mine. Gloria is the same rank as I am; we are both Grade II. We also hit it off, and she helped me a lot when I was in Velvet Garden.

"Has the mentor come?" I asked. "No," she replied, shaking her head.

She told me she couldn't come, but disappointment couldn't help but fill my heart. She taught me everything about a big legacy; it is because of her that I have hope. I might do this.

"Today is a big day. How are you feeling?" she asked, taking her hand into mine.

"Nervous, but also excited," I replied.

"Don't worry, you will do well," she said. Her voice filled with the confidence that I am feeling myself.

I toured the legacy with her. Not only to show her around, but also to check everything. I want everything to be perfect; I cannot make even a single mistake.

Everything looks in order.

"What do you think?" I asked as I finished giving her a tour. "It's incredible," she replied, hearing that a smile couldn't help but appear on my face.

"Good, I really hope there won't be any problems," I said, feeling nervousness coming over me. "There won't be, but even if there is, you will handle it," she replied before her expression turned mischievous.

"So, when are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?" she asked.

Since I came back, I have met him only once. I have been busy; there is a lot of work.

In these six months, I have only met him a few times, only in Inam. He wanted to meet in Greltheaven, but I did not. I wanted nothing to distract me, not even a boy.

"Tonight," I replied before entering the elevator with her.

It's eight and time for a meeting; everybody is going to be there, including the overseer and the Headmistress.

Soon, we reached the conference room, and the guards opened the door for us. I nodded and stepped inside, and saw that everybody was already there.

Only two seats were empty, mine and Gloria's.

"My apologies, everyone," I said as they got up. Not all of them got up. My grandfather, Headmistress Madam Jenna, Overseer Veyrault, and Mariha remained seated.

"No need to apologise, Lady Lindgren, we have just arrived early," replied the Headmistress in her soothing voice.

I nodded and was about to move to the agenda when I stopped. Lady?

She seemed to notice the confusion as she smiled, so did my grandfather and the overseer, and even Gloria seemed to be in on it.

The next moment, two scrolls appeared in front of me.

"The crown had accepted your right to the legacy," stated Overseer Veyrault, and a moment later, two scrolls floated up and opened.

I read them with shock in my eyes. Both seals.

I could see the seal of the crown prince and the princes on the scroll. It wouldn't have been easy; Grandfather tried, but the imperials didn't accept my right over the legacy.

Now, here it is.

"Please, thank Lord Silver from me," I said, and they smiled. I am going to thank him personally after the meeting is over.

I looked at them all and opened my mouth.

"Today is the opening. All of you have worked hard for it, and today, that work will be revealed for all to see," I said, looking at the head staff.

"I want everyone alert; we don't want any mistakes. Especially not today."

The staff nodded.

Seeing that, I opened the file.

The meeting lasted for an hour and a half; my grandfather and the rest remained quiet. Only the staff, Mariha, and I spoke, while they just listened.

It made me feel more pressure. Instead of easing it.

When the meeting ended, the first thing I did was call Lord Silver before moving on to the work. I wished my grandfather had tagged along with me, but he left with the headmistress.

Hours passed until it was ten minutes to six, and I was looking at myself in the mirror.

I wore a beautiful purple-red gown that was designed for this occasion and jewellery from my grandmother. That my grandfather had given me on my fifteenth birthday.

"You look beautiful, peach; just like your grandmother, when I saw her for the first time," said grandfather as he walked beside me.

"I wish she were here too," I replied.

She died before I was born. Grandfather misses her a lot. Sometimes, I notice him staring with tears flowing from his eyes.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "Yes," I replied with my voice faintly shaking.

"You will do great, peach," he said and took my hand.

A few minutes later, I am standing in front of the legacy's door. I am alone; my grandfather had once more disappeared with the rest.

I looked at the clock, and as it was six, before I looked ahead.

"Open the gates," I ordered in the tradition of Velvet Garden. Immediately, the gates opened, and the mist disappeared quickly.

In time, the gates fully opened, and the mist disappeared. Revealing the Twilight Hall to the world.